CALDWELL'S TAKE CORNER CUBE TUESDAY 9/2 - Thoughts on Raw with HBK-Jericho, Kane-Rey, and the next C.M. Punk Sep 2, 2008 - 12:52:18 PM

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By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

Updated daily from the corner cubicle, Torch columnist James Caldwell's weekday blog focuses on hot topic current events and other items of interest from around wrestling.

Updated Tuesday, September 2

If anyone can draw a logical explanation from the nuances of the Rey-Kane storyline, please consider yourself fortunate. It's amazing how the same TV program can deliver the greatness of Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho along with the ultra-confusing and convoluted Kane-killed-Rey storyline that was apparently made up by Kane or just something he envisioned in his head.

Putting the Kane storyline aside, last night's Raw was a strong show aimed at selling the PPV on Sunday. Randy Orton's return was a welcome addition - yes, it's shocking to write that - with Orton showing a new sense of confidence and having an air of authority to him.

He seemed to have been paying attention to Chris Jericho's recent presentation, as Orton's verbal and non-verbal language enhanced the storylines he was a part of with C.M. Punk and Cody & Teddy. There is potential for a strong main event feud between C.M. Punk and Orton when Orton returns from injury, plus the opportunity to "mentor" the tag champs, who showed necessary fire on Raw.

Back to Michaels and Jericho for a second. Just when you thought they had said every possible line or looked at this storyline from every possible angle, they pulled out a few more angles to build intrigue for Sunday. Jericho's line about telling his family he'll never be Shawn Michaels because it would be a degrading label was a great comeback. Michaels having the line that he hopes God forgives him for what he does to Jericho was the icing on the cake for selling the PPV.

Whether or not they can pull off a match on Sunday at the level of expectations they created remains to be seen. Michaels has a full week to get his arm in a condition to wrestle, but you certainly hope Michaels isn't risking permanent and long-term injury by going forward with the match. Jericho is a professional in the ring, but Michaels will take risks out of instinct, which could create further damage.

WWE really can't afford to drop this match from the line-up. They gave this the final hard sell in the final segment of the show, making it the match to order the PPV for. WWE risks damage to future PPV business if the match doesn't take place, but the concern should be on Michaels's health first and foremost.

You can't say enough about the Michaels-Jericho feud and hopefully they can find a way to keep this program going over the next few months while Michaels is out with injury. It may not be worth dragging out the feud if it doesn't lead to a match until WrestleMania 25, but I can't imagine Raw without this feud.

Regardless, WWE now has two ways to go with the recent slew of injuries on Raw and Smackdown. They can fall into the past pattern of going with a crazy stunt involving Vince McMahon to keep viewers tuned in or give some younger talent a chance to push for more TV time.

WWE hasn't been disciplined in the past, but with the creation of C.M. Punk as a legitimate national TV star, there is hope with the right push and presentation behind another Punk on the roster.

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